| 摘要 |
An expandable and compressible atherectomy cutter for cutting plaque from a stenosis in an artery includes a cutter assembly which, relative to its axis of rotation, has a plurality of radially separated and axially aligned blades. The distal ends of these blades are joined together at a grommet and the proximal ends are free for individual engagement with grooves which are axially oriented on the hub of a rotatable torque tube. Each groove on the hub has a plurality of notches, and each notch in a groove has a corresponding notch in each of the other grooves which lies in the same radial plane and at the same radial distance from the rotational axis of the torque tube. Although notches in different radial planes can have different radial distances, the proximal ends of the blades simultaneously engage with only the notches in the same radial plane. Thus, movement of the cutter assembly relative to the hub causes a concerted movement of the proximal ends of the blades from notches in one radial plane to the notches in another radial plane for radial expansion or contraction of the blades.
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